The Foreign Office are advising Britons to consider leaving Tokyo and Northern Japan as the situation with the nuclear power stations remains uncertain. Although there is currently no risk to human health outside of the exclusion zone around the power stations the continued struggle the country faces has sparked this new advice.

A Foreign Office statement said: “Due to the evolving situation at the Fukushima nuclear facility and potential disruptions to the supply of goods, transport, communications, power and other infrastructure, British nationals currently in Tokyo and to the north of Tokyo should consider leaving the area.”

Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said the advice was “not an order” but that given the situation “British nationals should consider leaving Tokyo and northern Japan”. He said they should be able to leave on a plane, or at least travel to other parts of the country by train or bus, but if the capacity needs to be increased by the British government, this will happen.